The health of knees, spine, hips, elbows, and more body parts is measured by the range of stretch and mobility. Young or old, sports proven or accident prone, people often need restorative physical therapy.

Ideally, a patient benefits best when, according to the team of Riverside Medical, their treatment utilizes “a patient care coordinator, responsible for overseeing practice operations and addressing any specific issues that our patients may have.”

Diseases affecting your range of motion

Diverse diseases limit your range of motion and may lead to progressive disability in time.

Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, juveniles arthritis, bursitis, cerebral palsy, and orthopedic and osteoporotic conditions manifest themselves as mobility issues.

Injuries affecting your range of motion

Falls or injuries to spine, ankles, wrists, feet, knees, and more will limit your mobility without treatment.

When knees, shoulders, wrists, and more are treated surgically, they require therapy to relieve the pain associated with motion and flexibility.

Complex therapy response

Depending on the precise location of the problem, the extent of the damage, the age and gender of the patient, treatment will align medical, pharmaceutical, and physical therapy remedies as one strategic approach.

Heat and cold remain well-respected traditional responses, and there are diverse pharmaceutical muscle relaxants and pain relievers.

Continuing physical rehabilitation is an effective recovery path in the hands of accomplished professionals.

Medrisk.com cites a study in Health Services Research that reports, “over time, using physical therapy as a first management strategy actually resulted in 72% fewer costs within the first year.”

Current range of motion exercises

Active therapies are performed by the patient under the supervision of a physical therapist. Each joint and/or combination of related areas stretches to its limited range. Time and repetitions will improve the musculature and flexibility.

Passive exercises are performed by therapists on patients. The therapist flexes each joint and massages the area. Unfortunately, if the patient cannot perform the exercises, muscle strength does not improve.

Active and passive exercises may involve equipment like recumbent bicycles, treadmills, steps, universal apparatus, stretching straps, and more.

The roles of physical therapist

The International Encyclopedia of Rehabilitation recognizes physical therapists as practitioners, educators, consultants, and administrators.

As trained medical practitioners, physical therapists treat and assist patients in primary and institutional care with therapeutic services.

As educators, they inform their patients about their health condition and the therapeutic strategies being pursued. This education may involve changes in lifestyle and exercise regimens to follow treatment.

As consultants, physical therapists work in their professional and community networks to advise employers on wellness programs, businesses to practice preventive measures, and assist student interns.

As administrators, therapists take notes on sessions and enter data into clinical databases shared with primary care physicians, surgeons, insurance companies, and billing.

Trusting the physical therapist

At their best, physical therapists are fully educated and certified professionals.

They usually complete at least a community college level training program or a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy. A college program may continue to the master’s level and specialize in pediatric, sports, or geriatric therapies.

They complete a supervised and monitored externship at approved clinical settings, and they follow a strict code of ethics.

Their education and expertise has raised their value and prestige as key partners in the health care delivery mechanism. Their contributions to the community, their profession, and their patients help raise the level of patient care.

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Author’s Bio

Michael F. Carroll

Title: Freelance writer at OutreachMama

Mike is a freelance contributor to OutreachMama and Youth Noise NJ who helps businesses find their audience online through research, content copy, and whitepapers. He frequently writes about management, marketing, and sales with customized outreach for digital marketing channels and outreach plans depending on the industry and competition.